Mode of propelling boats ost castals or rivers



UNITED sTATEs PATENT onirica.d

MODE OF PROPELLING BOATS ON kCANALS OR RIVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 165, dated April 17, 1887.

To all whom it may concern always be kept at a uniform distance from n Be it known that I, JOHN' FINLAY, of the edge of the'canal, causing little or no in- Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have jury to its banks; the horses acting with this .invented certain new and useful Improveframe will produce a steady draught with ments in the Mode of Propelling Boats on less fatigue to themselves than by the com- 60 Canals and Rivers, which are described as mon method; and will perform greater "I follows, reference being had to the annexed labor; the whole being easily detached to drawings' ofthe same, making part of this allow of boats passing each other, Yor for e Specification. l Y other purposes. When steam power is used The nature of my improvements consists in packet boats it is placed in the stern of 65 in providing a rail or Stringing on the side the boat, by which means the annoyance of. "I of canals or rivers, or over the tops of boats smoke and cinders will be avoided; besides lpropelled on canals or rivers, said side producing great velocity on canals without Stringing or rail being placed on posts sethe risk that at-tends the use of rail roads.V cured on the slopes or banks of the canal and To enable others to make and use my in- 70 Y near the edge of the water, elevated sufivention I will proceed to describe its conf Y i" ciently high to allow of certain wheels, herestruction and operation. A after described, to pass between the towl 1st. I construct a boat in the best formto path and rail and clear of the former; and pass through the water with the least realso tov allow of other wheels attached to a sistance; near the bow of which I attach a 75 frame, moving` against the rail without frame with two friction wheels that contouching the tow path or bank, said frame form to the rail onthe side of the canal being moved with horses traveling on the which keep the boat always parallel with tow path. And when the propelling power the rail and at the same dist-ance from the is in the boat to act on a wheel or wheels side of the canal, as will be seen by reference 80 L supported in aframe attached near the stern to the drawing marked A. Near the stern by joints or hinges, lying in a horizontal of the boat is fixed the propelling Apower line, or nearly so, according to the depth of which operates a crank, the axis of which the water in the canal; said wheel or wheels passes through the center of the moving acting in the same position with the frame wheel working in the frame, connected to 85 .by the moving power in the boat; being the boat by hinges or joints so as to allow ofv held in contact with the rail by a friction its accommodating itself according to the D wheel on the outside of the rail, drawn tight depth of water in the canal; said wheel actby springs, levers, or counter weights, proing in nearly a horizontal line on the rail;

ducing a full action on the rail. And also to the outer end of the frame and on the 90 in using a guide frame at the forward part other side of the rail is fixed a friction of the boat with friction rollers against the wheel in a slide, forced by springs, levers, or sides of the rail; havingan up and down accounter weights into close contact with the tion to conform to the depth of the water side of the rail pressing the moving wheel in ,j

4o in the canal. The Stringing or rail used contactwith the rail which produces the fore 95 over boats being supported by a frame of warding act-ion on the boat, as shown by leti wood and iron, to which the moving wheel ter B. In the use of animal power and the of the boat is applied, as in the mode just tow path the frame to which the horses are described. attached moves in an inclined position,'the

The frame I use for horses to move with plane of the wheels being oblique to the 100 on the tow path with wheels acting obhorizon; and to which frame the boat is to liquely on the rail secured by friction rollers, be attached by a rod with eyes or rings at is supported by the horses with the back its ends, slipped over pins in the forward bands, and may be used with a number of part of the boat and wheel-frame to keep the horses; to which frame the boat is attached bo-at parallel to the rail. To the hind wheel 105 at the forward end by a rod with suitable axle, or to a pin inserted in the frame a rope fastenings connecting them together; havis attached by one end, the other end being ing also a rope or line fastened to the axle secured to the after part of the boat and regof the hind wheel, or to a pin in the frame, ulated to length, so that the boat shall be at or otherwise, and to the boat by which it will an equal distance from the edge of the canal. 11

This carriage or frame is shown in the drawing by the letters H, I and J. It is drawn by horses traveling on the tow path and producing a direct forwarding action to the boat by which means it is moved with ease, steadiness, and velocity; and without that reaction and jerking motion produced by the sagging of the rope in the present Inode of using horses and tow lines on canals. Y

Now, what I claim as my invention and which I desire to secureJ by Letters Patent consists in l. rIhe use and application of a string piece or rail secured to posts placed near the edge of the water in canals; or over the tops of boats used on canals and rivers, and applying to the sides of said Stringing or rail a wheel or wheels attached by a frame to al boat, with oints so as to adapt the whole to the depth of the water; operating nearly in a horizontal line; and to which wheel or wheels I apply the propelling power causing y the boat to move with velocity and without injuring the banks of the canal.

2. I also claim the use and application of the guide frame with the friction rollers to keep the boat parallel to the canal.

3. I likewise claim the use and application of a frame with wheels to'voperate on the rail above described, for horses to move with on the tow path to propel boats on canals,

. said frame having two wheels whose planes 

